Since 2019 graduates of counselling and psychotherapy programmes are regulated under CORU and all of the relevant Irish professional bodies require practitioners in counselling to hold, as a minimum entry qualification, an NFQ level 8 degree in counselling. This one-year programme has been specifically designed to facilitate holders of an NFQ level 7 qualification in counselling to upskill and bring their qualifications in line with the regulations.

 

Counselling involves talking and listening to clients about their emotions, relationships, thought processes, patterns of behaviour or life events, such as bereavement, addiction, divorce, health issues or job concerns. Counsellors help clients to understand themselves better and find their own solutions to resolve or cope with their situation or issues. Counsellors play a crucial role in improving the health and wellbeing of people in society.